Personal statements

Seventh graders presented their personal logos to one another this week.
 

This project is part of an opening unit on self-esteem in health class, and the logos reveal each students' self-assessed character strengths, skills, interests, likes, and goals. 
 

This project followed a class in which students anonymously voted on the top positive characteristic of every student in the class. The voting results led to each student receiving and reflecting upon a printed personalized word cloud of positive attributes.
 

The logo project became a way to reflect these positive qualities back at the class, alongside each student’s passions, values and backgrounds.
 

(Those who remember middle school as an anxiety-filled high-stakes free-for-all should pause and consider the courage, vulnerability and social generosity that Gordon seventh graders have readily available for projects like this one)
 

The exercise also gave them hands-on insight into the decisions that go into making logos. 
 

Corporate symbols are everywhere, and it can be easy to forget that they are designed by actual people, people who have specific ideas they are trying to communicate.
 

This first lesson in logos paves the way for a deeper analysis of logos, slogans, and other techniques of marketing persuasion that continues into eighth grade health.
 

But for this week, the logo project is simply a powerful way for students to introduce themselves to one another, and to experiment with the ways they want to share their identities with the world.

 

Gordon's health and wellness curriculum is supported by the Gordon Fund. Learn more at www.gordonschool.org/give